Duckling Feed

[Pheasant283]

Looking into getting a few ducklings. What kind of starter can I feed them? Can I feed them chick starter? Thanks

 

[Scottingitup]

I use purina flock raiser.

 

[BarefootMom]

I use unmedicated Purina Start and grow mixed with scratch. I mix all my feed with scratch. makes it go further

 

[M1ssK1mmy]

Just be sure to get unmedicated....

 

[Speceider]

There's no reason not to use medicated chick starter. I would not cut the feed with grain. You're chnaging the protein level and altering the amino acid balance which isn't good for the duckling.

Clint

 

[BarefootMom]

Quote:
well the ducklings that are raised by their mamas don't get starter- they only get scratch and whatever else they can find... and what about ducklings in the wild?? I think people spend too much time worrying baout amino acid (whatever that is) and protein levels...

I think as long as they are happy and are growing just fine it doesn't really matter. I use un medicated because it is cheaper.

We have been mixing for the past 2 months and haven't had any problems.

 

[Speceider]

they only get scratch and whatever else they can find... and what about ducklings in the wild??


Both are eating large quantities of invertebrates that have a balanced amino acid ration. In a penned situation where they don't have access to inverts, they will suffer. That's a big reason why ducklings in the wild eat almost entirely inverts for the first few weeks and then shift to seeds after fledging.

Clint

 

[Pheasant283]

So I can feed them medicated chick starter or not?

 

[Speceider]

Yes, you can feed them medicated chick starter.

Clint

 

[Niss]

I've use unmedicated chick starter with the last two batches. Neither group has grown as fast as the first, which got a higher protine game starter...that is until the middle group got thrown out of my basement and into the woods--the sweeds in that group about doubled in size the last week eating crumbles befor bed in the coop and what ever they can find durring the day.